marychamp's Blog

After hearing about the police officer caught on tape talking crazy to the young man, I was compelled to tell write about my experience with the Bel-Ridge police here in St. Louis County.  I lived in Bel-Ridge for 5 years.  I am a a single white mother of two bi-racial children.  On several occasions I encountered Bel-Ridge police, only to be talked to as if I was the scum of the earth.  They made it very obvious that they did not agree with my having bi-racial kids.  I was constantly pulled over for no reason.  They even went so far as to lock me up for 7 days because I missed paying a fine for my grass being 12 inches tall,  even after I showed the inspector my lease stating that my land scaping was my landlords responsability.  Thankfully I have since moved from their prejudice  manicupality, and to this day I am scared to even drive through it.  I think many people out there have no idea how bad it really is.

my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 8 years old, that was 10 years ago.   Although she received her treatment at Children's Hospital, when they dropped our insurace we started her after-care at Cardinal Glennon, the Costas Center.  This center has done so much for her and many other children.  It saddens me to think that a man, yes a mere man, could put aside the children for the church.   Although my daughter is 18 now, the Costas Center has even help her through a transistional center to help cross over into her follow-ups as a young adult.  Thank You Costas Center!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A friend of mine just learned that her 16 year old son got a tattoo with out her permission.  He said that the tattoo shop didn't even ask him for I.D.  So my friend called the shop and they said he must of already had a tattoo, but he didn't, then they proceeded to say, "Well there's nothing we can do about it now." 

Where does a parent go to report something like this, aren't there laws that prohibit it?

I thought about this when I read the words "non for profit" today.

I use to date a guy that always bought his cars from this guy who sold cars out of an old warehouse in downtown St. Louis.  There were dozens of really nice cars in this warehouse (not a car lot), so I asked my friend "where does this guy get all these really nice cars?"  He said that the business is listed as a non-for-profit, and he gets people to donate their cars, so while he sells them after paying ZERO for them, he turns around and sells them and only has to donate a small annual percentage of the sales, which he can claim as he pleases.

I was so discusted. 

So I'm writing this blog as a warning.  While I'm sure that most non-for-profits are truly benefiting the people they claim to be, becareful do your research.

does anyone know what this is?

Here's a picture of the Unidentified Sitting Object that I posted a bog about last week. It sit's south of highway 70 at Bermuda Rd.  For years my kids and I have been wondering what it is. Do You Know?

Here are two photos, I climbed what felt like a mountain to snap them

As you can see there is a green tarp covering the top, and the bottom, although  hard to see, there seems to be some sort of vent. 

I woke up this morning and read all the blogs in response to the trouble I've been having with my son.  While reading them my eyes began to water and before you know it I had tears running everywhere.  These were not tears of sadness, but tears of gratitude.  Thank you to everyone that responded.  I got alot of great advice, I really like the one about taking him out once a month for some "our" time.  It's so great, as one blogger said, to have this space to vent, and even though times are difficult, people care.

Hi everyone, I was hoping to get  some advice from anyone willing to share.  I am a single mother of two teen agers, a boy and a girl.  I have never received any child support, and since I'm the only source of income, I'm forced to work two jobs (one full time, the other part time,) to support my family.  I work in a factory all day, then on Fri, Sat, and Mon, I leave the plant, race home, shower, then race to my second job.  My kids have always been the sweetest, most polite kids anyone would meet.  I don't know what happend.  It seems as if since becoming teenagers, they are so disrepectful towards me, no one else but me.  They mumble smart things under their breath, they say things like "so," to whatever I say.  They are down right mean to me.    I can't give them everything they want, but they have always had everything they need.  My question is:  could this be a faze, could they really hate me, and how do I get through to them just how Blessed they are to have a nice roof over their heads, never have went hungry, and have clothes on their backs. 

I'm pretty new to this whole cyber-space thing, but I gotta say that I am never bored anymore this blog thing is AWESOME!!!  Thanks Fox 2

I started this blog because for years I have been curious to know what that "thing" is by UMSL, just off Highway70 at Bermuda Rd.  It is huge and is covered by a brown tarp.  My children and I have joked for years that it is a spaceship.  Well I guess since I can't identify it, I can consider it  an "Unidedentified Sitting Object."  If anyone knows what this is, please share. Thanks.